Hey! Sorry it took me as long as it took. I'm getting back on schedule but really slowly. You know, when I started writing, I never even dreamed of having 100 reviews and now I got 115… Granted, I do have 10 (now 11) chapters up but still! It's really a big deal to me. I want to thank everyone who had followed through this fic with me and liked it! And I also want to warn you that I have no idea yet when this is going to end because well, truthfully, I suck at endings, all right? So, if this is a good thing, you can pretty much rely on many more chapters lol. ; ) All righty, please enjoy and remember to leave me a nice review!
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"Oh please, how old is this guy?"
"He'll probably fall asleep, die, and come back to teach as a ghost too."
"I bet his class will be really boring."
Whispers surrounded the Great Hall on Thursday, when this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher finally showed up. From experience of Professor Binns, their History of Magic teacher, the majority of the students figured Allen's class wouldn't be too interesting. However, Allen Krived was sitting at the staff table, merrily talking to his fellow professors, seemingly oblivious to the stares and whispers. He looked extremely happy and comfortable in his spot and engaged everyone around him in conversation. Snape alone was unhappy with the addition. He kept scowling and looked as if he was holding back something insulting.
Though most of the students did not look forward to Allen's class, Harry and Hermione were thrilled. Hermione was more cheerful than she had been the whole week and Ron was even happier because of this. They talked excitedly about what their first DADA class, which they had together right before lunch, would be like. The way Sirius talked about the new teacher, it was sure to be one of their best classes yet, even if most of the students didn't seem to think so. However, the two didn't get far into the conversation because breakfast ended and they had to go separate ways.
"See you in Defense" Ron said and Hermione waved as they left to their morning classes.
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People filled into the DADA classroom lazily. Allen was sitting behind his desk, looking calmly at the students as they curiously looked around the renovated room. It wasn't decorated nearly as much as it had been the other years, yet it somehow had a cozy, safe feeling to it. There were several strange objects throughout the room, some of which were familiar, though most were not. On his desk were placed the most normal, yet highly peculiar objects. There was a small heart-shaped music box, an alarm clock, a decorative lamp, a small bottle of perfume (which caused many raised eyebrows) and other various every-day objects, both Muggle and wizard. Finally, everyone had settled down and Allen got up from his seat and smiled at the class.
"My name is Allen Krived but I beg of you to call me Professor Allen at most formal. All right." Allen started after finishing taking the attendance. "I'm sure most of you already know that NEWT level Defense Against the Dark Arts classes are introductory courses for a career as, or relating to, an Auror. Since you'd already learned about the Unforgivable curses, I figured I'd start with that." He turned around and opened the music box on his desk. Immediately, soft classical music was filling the room and, as one, the class suddenly looked absent-minded and dreamy. Allen whispered something and the class paired up in twos and suddenly started dancing with each other to the music. Here and there, a few people stopped and were looking around vaguely, as if trying to figure out what was going on. Some recovered quicker and were laughing at the students stupidly moving around the room, acting similar to robots. Allen shut the box. The pairs of students separated, looking embarrassed and confused and scrambled back to their seats.
"Who can tell me what that was?" Hermione Granger's hand flew up into the air instantly. She had been one of the first people to resist, too. "Yes?"
"A rebound Imperius enchantment, placed on simple every-day objects, used on more than one person or to channel a great amount of energy into one person, making it harder to resist. They had been banned in 1879, though many Dark wizards still pass on the knowledge of the enchantments." She recited, as if reading from a textbook. "This particular one wasn't powerful enough to fully control a roomful of people. Ooh and also after a rebound Imperius enchantment, all knowledge of what had happened starting from when it began, is erased from one's mind."
"Excellent, Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor." Hermione beamed. "The rebound Imperius enchantment, or Recrudescentium Imperius, its proper term, nowadays is mostly used in pranks and small things but is actually quite powerful. When done properly, it could put an entire Quidditch stadium of people under control of the caster. However, in mass numbers it is much easier to resist. It takes a lot of willpower and practice, but it is possible. As Miss Granger also noted, when it is directed at a single person, it channels a lot of energy on him or her and then becomes nearly impossible to resist, even for trained Aurors.
Lesson one in resisting the Recrudescentium Imperius. It sends you in a state of complete peacefulness but you must not want that. That's the mistake most people make. They want that feeling, that rest, and they give in almost willfully. You. Must. Not. Want. It. No matter how appealing rest may sound, you cannot give in! Let's---"
But Allen was broken off when Professor Snape walked into the room. He was wearing an extremely unpleasant expression on his face. He walked over to Allen and said something in a low voice. Allen nodded and took a piece of parchment from his desk while Snape took one of the pens lying on the desk and wrote something on the parchment. He frowned and wiped the words away, then resumed writing. He repeated this several times before giving up.
"You-you---you--- Ugh!" He threw Allen and the class an extremely nasty look that made Neville tremble in fright and walked out, furiously mumbling something to himself that contained the name Dumbledore. Written all over the parchment, in large letters, were the words I AM A GREASY-HAIRED GIT.
Somehow after that incident, people came to respect Allen much more than they had at first. They had in fact tried so hard that in just that one class, more than half of the students were able to resist the music box's enchantment. Though many were still skeptical about the new teacher, his behavior put them at ease and he quickly became one of their favourite teachers. It seemed that all of the first impressions of Defense teachers proved to be wrong.
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"Sirius Black. Sirius Black!" Harry called in vain. He had the mirror his godfather had given him last year clutched in his hands and was whispering frantically. Where was Sirius? Why wasn't he answering? Harry didn't know how long he'd been in this dark room. He only had a faint idea of where he was, too. All he knew was that he had woken up in here, with the exit locked up (no spell he knew broke the locks). Every once in a while, someone would come in to feed him and make sure he was still alive and sane. Harry had the feeling that they were waiting for something, for a sign, and then they would kill him. He wished he knew what the sign was.
Wormtail had come in most frequently. He seemed very disturbed and he was shaking every time he came into the room. He was the only one of Harry's 'guards' who would say a word to him. Well, the words he uttered were barely audible and he more squeaked than spoke them. From what he had let slip to Harry, Harry figured he was in a hideout provided by one of the Death Eaters, though that was not very helpful. Every once in a long while, what seemed to be a meeting happened in the room next to Harry's but he could never make anything out.
By now, he had given up and was lying on a torn up couch, thinking of the many things he could have done to prevent this when he heard the voices in the next room again. He would have done anything for one of those Extendable Ears of Fred and George's now. Then a new idea dawned on him. Harry remembered reading something about volume spells somewhere and a certain one popped into his head. He took out his wand, silently thanking the Lord that they hadn't taken it away and muttered 'Exaudio'.
"—No. We can't do that right under their noses." Someone said.
"They wouldn't know—"
"Of course they'd know. They always know. The trial is tomorrow, correct?" The first person continued. "We'll see then. End of discussion."
Trial? Harry's mind raced. Was it possible they were talking about Sirius's trial? No, why would they care about that, he thought. But then again…
Harry needed someone to talk to. He called his godfather's name into the mirror again but with no result. Then he thought of something. Harry sighed, clutched the metal frame in his hand and said clearly,
"Remus Lupin." He waited but nothing happened. He waited for a bit, repeated the name and was about to put down the mirror and try to come up with something else when a face formed in the clear glass.
"Harry?" Remus asked unsurely. "Harry! Where are you?"
"Shh!" Harry whispered, bewildered. He could not risk getting caught now. "I have no idea. I think I'm in the Department of Mysteries.
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"Master's orders, Wormtail." A cold voice replied, exasperated, just outside the door to Harry's prison.
"But Lucius…" Peter squeaked.
"No buts Wormtail! I am taking him, now!" Just then, the owner of the bitter voice burst into the room. Sure enough, it was Lucius Malfoy, and Harry's heart sank again. What were they going to do? Harry barely struggled as Malfoy dragged him up and Harry though he saw a glint of something like happiness or relief in his eyes before shaking it off as an illusion.
"Lucius—" Peter was at the door, staring wildly at Harry.
"You can come along if you'd like. I don't have time for this." Lucius pushed Harry forward and the boy obeyed, thinking he would be happy to finally see sunlight. Wormtail lingered behind before choosing to follow.
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"Those in favor of clearing the witness of all charges?" Fudge's taunting voice rose as he looked around at the people surrounding him. Sirius was standing in front of the panel of wizards, looking pale but composed. Beside him, Allen stood, looking rather nervous. On the benches along the sides sat the Weasley family along with Hermione, Remus Lupin, and numerous people from the Order, all looking anxious. Up at the benches, the Wizengamot voted. Several people, including Dumbledore, raised their hands. Fudge looked satisfied.
"Those in favor of—"
"Sorry to interrupt." Suddenly, three people burst into the room. Sirius's jaw fell open as he whirled around. Standing beside the door was Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew and Harry. "Oh." Lucius sighed and screwed up his eyes in concentration. Within seconds, in place of Malfoy was standing Nymphadora Tonks. She smiled confidently at Harry, who stood still in shock. Behind him, Wormtail was fidgeting and tried to run for the door but Tonks stopped him. "Not so fast."
"Excuse me." Fudge's face was a dark shade of purple and he sounded as if he was trying to calm himself. "But is there a reason that you are interrupting this trial?"
"Oh! Oh yes, of course." Tonks pushed Peter to the front. "This as you may know is no other than Peter Pettigrew." Gasps were heard from the Wizengamot. They began whispering to each other.
"Silence!" Fudge yelled. "Peter Pettigrew, you say?"
"Yes, that is he." Allen stepped up, nodding for Tonks and Harry to sit down. They did so, but not before Tonks almost knocked over one of the benches.
"Let him answer for himself then, would you?" Fudge snapped. "Are you or are you not the said Peter Pettigrew?"
"Yes I am." Peter answered in a strange, almost computerized way. More whispers followed.
"SILENCE! Well, Peter Pettigrew, what's your story then?" He sounded bitter. Peter stared at him blankly. Fudge rolled his eyes. "Did you or did you not frame the defendant Sirius Black on the night of November 1st, 1981?"
"Yes I did." Peter replied in the same monotonic voice. Now talks erupted from everyone in the room.
"SILENCE!!!" Fudge's face turned a deeper shade of purple. "And what happened that night?"
"Sirius was the only person alive who knew that I was the Potters' Secret Keeper. He tried to take revenge on me and I framed him by shouting out that he had betrayed them, killing a bunch of people on the street, cutting off my finger, after which I turned into my Animagus form, a rat, and ran away." Peter was still speaking in a hollow tone.
"Very well." A calm, melodic voice sounded from the Wizengamot. A pretty young witch with long light brown hair was speaking. She glanced at Sirius. "Based on this new evidence, all those now in favor of clearing the defendant of all charges?" The vast majority of the people in the group raised their hands. "Conviction?" Fudge and a few other people's hands rose feebly. "Sirius Black, congratulations." She smiled. "You are now officially declared innocent of the incident of November the first 1981. Peter Pettigrew, you shall be taken in for questioning. Case closed." She sat down and smiled happily.
It took the room a moment to realize what had happened. Suddenly it erupted with sounds of congratulations and happiness and Sirius was enveloped in hugs from his friends again. Harry's return did not pass by unnoticed either; as soon as the verdict settled in, everyone turned to him to welcome his return and well-being.
"Harry!" Hermione squeaked happily before embracing him in a tight hug. Her eyes were tear stained and she would not let go of Harry until she found that he could hardly breathe. "Oh, I'm so glad you're ok!"
"Me too. I missed you guys so much!" Hermione, however, did not get the chance to hug him again as Ron stepped in. Harry was soon welcomed back by everyone except Sirius. He was now hugging the woman who had spoken the ruling. It was Kiara.
Finally, the crowd was sent out by Fudge, who didn't look happy with the arrangements of the trial and Sirius and Harry at last got to greet each other properly.
"Harry!" Sirius called, catching up with his godson. "I'm so glad to have you back! Where did they take you? What did they do? Are you ok? Oh, I'm going to kill Lucius the first chance I get, I swear!" Harry laughed.
"Congratulations on the trial!" They hugged lightly.
"You know what it means though, right?" Sirius asked excitedly.
"Yeah!" Harry smiled. "Now I can live with you!"
"You still want to? I mean, you've seen Grimmauld Place and…"
"It's the best home I could ever have. Especially compared to the Dursleys. Of course I want to!" In relief, Sirius wrapped him in another hug.
It sure seemed like everything was over…
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And that's the end of this chapter. More evilness coming up, I promise! I hope everyone's happy with the trial! I figured if Tonks was Metamorphagus and could shift into whatever she wants, she could change to look like another person, right? Trella, slowly and enjoyably is good but you'll have to wait till later for that, sorry. Erynwen, thanks! shining-star20, thanks. Lil Lupin, how was that? I'm not that evil, I'm in a generous mood right now writing this chapter so it was pretty happy, huh? DJ, thanks. K-Black, ok! Tillia KaWaii, lol yeah, here. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm trying to take less time updating but it's really hard. I still have tons of other peoples' updates to catch up on. Anyways, please review, it makes me so happy!